It's Christmas Eve and we reflect on if Christmas is really worth it.

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In this episode we reflect on the 3rd Sunday in Advent focused around joy. John the Baptist “denied his own comforts and was prepared to die for what he believed because He wanted to share this joyful news with others.”

Jesus has been sharing his message with all who have ears to hear (and eyes to see). Though many have rejected the message, many have accepted and received Jesus. However, they still do not fully see who Jesus is (illustrated literally when Jesus heals the blind man).

Peter is the first to confess Jesus is the Christ, but even He doesn't fully understand as Jesus follows this by explaining that he must die and that the trust cost of discipleship that that we pick up our cross and follow him – making ourselves a living sacrifice, being willing to give up our individual ambitions (and more), and willing to go where Jesus leads us.

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Pastor Jonathan takes us through Mark 7 when Jesus has an interaction with a Phoenician woman seeking deliverance for her child from a demon. At first, it appears that he is being very harsh and dare we say possibly racist? Her child was healed because of her faith, and we learn what Jesus was communicating and that our task is to share hope, peace, joy, love and light with the world.

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